How could a show about nothing become a phenomenon? Just ask
Jerry Seinfeld and
Larry David and they just might tell you that they have no idea. Seinfeld hit the air waves in 1989 on NBC and twenty years later you can recite a line from any episode and still get a laugh.
With a cast of true "characters", audiences could relate to both characters and situations Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer often found them in.
Jerry Seinfeld (A Comedian), George Constanza (Jerry's Best Friend), Elaine Benes (Jerry's one-time Girlfriend and long-time Friend), and Cosmo Kramer (Jerry's next door neighbor) would all find themselves in everyday situations that every audience member could relate to.
The second tier of characters offered equal amount of humor and long lasting impressions. These included, Newman (Jerry's Nemesis), Frank Constanza (George's Father), Uncle Leo (Jerry's Uncle), and
George Steinbrenner (Owner of the Yankees where George worked).
But, perhaps it is the third tier of characters that really made Seinfeld popular for nine strong seasons. We were introduced to these characters through Jerry and his friends. We watched as Jerry serial-dated and explained his quirky reasons for it not working out, like her hands were too big or she was a soft talker. It was during the season finale that the audience was reunited with all the characters that caused havoc in Jerry, Elaine, George, and Kramer's lives. Like, "the Soup Nazi", "the Bubble Boy", and "The Maestro".
Critically acclaimed with awards including an Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series in 1993, Golden Globe Award for Best TV Series in 1994, and Screen Actors Guild Award for "Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series" in 1995, 1997, and 1998, Seinfeld proved lasting power.
Whether Elaine was trying to find out if Jerry's girl friend had fake boobs in the steam room or Kramer was basting himself in his apartment hot tub, there was always something going on that the audience could find ridiculous, hilarious, and unexpected with Seinfeld.